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2006 Corpsmember of the Year: Afton McKusick

Submitted by Hannah Traverse on 10/09/2012

***Update! Click here to read about what Afton has been up to since she won her award.***

(Written in 2006)

A remarkable and resilient Corpsmember, Afton McKusick has been a fixture of enthusiasm and dedication in the Coconino Rural Environment Corps (CREC). Encouraging several of her friends to join the corps with her, Afton began her successful role as corps recruiter during her junior year of high school. Her love for preserving the northern Arizona landscape continues to bring new members to CREC every season.

Afton’s first summer project with CREC consisted of removing the invasive species, cliff rose, off the sides of Walnut Creek. She loved the hard work and since then has worked on trail maintenance and chainsaw crews. Despite already receiving her allotted two AmeriCorps Education Awards she has insisted on spending her summers protecting the natrual environment of northern Arizona.

Afton says the program has helped her realize many life lessons. “Every person we come into contact with will in some way or another have an impact on us,” says McKusick, “but we also have an impact on them.”

As much as the program has benefited from Afton, she stated that CREC has been equally helpful in her character development. “Without this program, I would not be the person I am today, ” Afton said. Explaining her reasons for returning to the prorgram, Afton said, “I came back because…this is a place where I can make a difference.”